Wakame salt snacks to cheer about

31st July 2021 | Moira Geddes

If you’re looking for a taste of Japan but you’re not a huge fan of raw fish, gyoza or miso, then we’ve got the perfect solution to satisfy your appetite: wakame salt. Thanks to a local gourmet salt producer, you can now sprinkle a little Tokyo 2020 onto your TV snacks. It’ll elevate them to a level worthy of an Olympic gold medal.

Over the years, I’ve spent a lot of time in Japan, mostly in Hokkaido. This island is renowned for its fresh local produce, especially seafood, potatoes and dairy. But while I’m a huge fan of the umami flavour of many Japanese dishes, I also understand that it’s not for everyone. In fact, the idea of eating uncooked seafood can turn some people green around the gills.

An alternative way to get into the Tokyo Olympic spirit is to season your food with a light sprinkling of wakame salt. Wakame is a species of kelp that’s native to the cold waters of the northwest Pacific Ocean. It’s the main ingredient in the traditional Japanese seaweed salad you see at most sushi joints. It’s also highly nutritious, being packed with vitamins A, C, E and K, iron, calcium, copper and phosphorus. Wakame is also commonly added to Japanese broths and soups. But if you’re only after a subtle taste of Japan as you settle in for another week on the lounge, try these gold, silver and bronze Olympic TV snacks.

Gold: oven-baked wakame fries with Kewpie mayonnaise

Wakame salt fries

Silver: cooked king prawns with lemon and wakame salt

Prawns with wakame salt

Bronze: hot steamed wakame flavoured edamame beans with sesame seeds

Edamame with wakame salt

If you’ve never heard of wakame salt or don’t have a Japanese supermarket nearby, don’t stress. You can easily get your hands on it thanks to local gourmet salt producer Tasman Sea Salt. These guys sell wakame salt and other flavoured salts online. And for those of you who still aren’t keen on the idea of eating seaweed, you could try snacking on edamame. These immature soy beans are a popular Japanese snack that’s a great source of plant-based protein. They’re also rich in fibre, antioxidants and vitamin K. Eat them on their own, or spruce them up with one of the many other flavoured salts available.

In the video below, I reveal the wide range of flavoured salts that are available from some of Australia’s best gourmet salt producers, including Olsson’s, Murray River Salt, Pukara Estate, Mount Zero Olives and Tasman Sea Salt.